One of the names of God is Baal Perazim, meaning “Lord of Breakthroughs.” Given our current times, it feels like a fitting moment to invoke this name. At ONE FOR ISRAEL, we have witnessed remarkable changes and achievements, and I eagerly anticipate more breakthroughs.
The term “Lord of Breakthrough” is first mentioned in relation to King David in the Bible, specifically in 2 Samuel 5. This narrative is recounted later in Chronicles. To summarize, when the Philistines learned of David’s anointing as king, they sought him out, gathering in the Valley of Rephaim, which was quite a daunting scenario. Yet, David responded to this alarming situation—like he often did—by praying.
David asked the Lord, “Should I go against the Philistines? Will you help me defeat them?” The Lord replied, “Go up, and I will surely deliver them into your hands.” David reached Baal-Perazim and won a decisive victory. He proclaimed, “The Lord has crushed my enemies like a flood.” Hence, the name Baal-Perazim was established there. (2 Samuel 5:19-20)
There’s no obstacle that the Lord of Breakthrough can’t surmount. A friend of mine often remarks on how God likes to stack the odds against Himself to showcase His incredible power, much like what happened at the Red Sea. It’s astonishing—God remains active, delivering miracles even today.
Breakthroughs in Our Bible College
Here at ONE FOR ISRAEL, we’ve seen significant developments. Historically, it was uncommon to hear about Jews in Israel coming to faith in Yeshua, but approximately 15 years ago, a pivotal shift changed that narrative. With the vast reach of the internet, countless people discovered their faith through online searches, contributing to substantial growth in the community of believers. Many new followers attribute their faith journeys to our videos and resources available online.
In 2014, another spiritual breakthrough occurred, akin to a sonic boom. Previously, Jewish and Arab congregations had little interaction. They worshipped on different days—Saturday for Jews, Sunday for Arabs—and spoke different languages: Hebrew and Arabic. The cultural gap was immense, and direct relationships were essentially nonexistent, with only occasional prayer gatherings taking place. Yet, it was not as dire as it seemed.
Baal-Perazim has been active in our time. A new program launched in our Bible college, focusing on training senior pastors. Many pastors, regardless of their background, found themselves stepping into leadership roles without formal training. Some were just beginning Bible study groups while others sought to deepen their theological understanding and ministerial skills.
Pastors from both the Jewish and Arab communities admitted that they knew little about each other before coming together. However, through shared learning, they formed genuine friendships and trust as they worked towards building God’s kingdom in their congregations and communities. This marked a significant progress in Israel, where connections between the two groups have grown like never before.
“It was a blessing to experience the camaraderie and joy of knowing one another, embodying love and unity among our brothers,” Dr. Erez Solev shared after the first year. “We discussed challenging issues in a spirit of love and reconciliation. There was transparency, allowing us to open our hearts about personal struggles.”
Dr. Solev continued, “We spent several days tackling various leadership topics, praying for one another, and concluded the year by sharing in the Lord’s Supper.”
Together in Unity
Messianic Jewish Pastor Menno Kalisher, who leads Beit Geura (House of Salvation) in Jerusalem, reflected on his experience after attending the course in 2014. He said, “I was entirely new to Arab pastors. But bringing everyone together, I felt we had a great experience!”
Beit Geula’s congregation includes both Jews and Arabs, and Pastor Menno even officiated a wedding there for an Arab and an American couple part of the community. An Arab support team has become a vital aspect of the congregation.
Meanwhile, Arab pastor Saleem Sharash recalled his own uncertainties prior to the course. “Are they truly believers? Do they accept the Messiah?” he pondered about their Jewish counterparts. “What can I share with them? How will they accept me as an Arab pastor?”
Today, Pastor Saleem feels transformed by working alongside his Jewish brothers in faith. “It felt as if we were fulfilling a prophecy,” he stated, describing the experience as “heaven on earth, with Jews and Arabs studying together.”
Currently, the Church of King Jesus in Nazareth is committed to supporting the Jewish community in Israel. They’re working to share the gospel.
When an Arab Knocks on a Jew’s Door
Saleem Sharash comes from a family of Arab Christians and serves as the pastor of Jesus the King Church in Nazareth. He recounted how deeply rooted his resentment towards Israel was, to the point where he couldn’t read the Hebrew Bible. “I was raised to see the Old Testament as a negative text, meant for the Gentile Jews who crucified my Savior,” he explained. But one fateful night, God opened his eyes, leading him to love Israel. “This is God’s plan, and I wanted to be a part of it.”
“The media often portrays Israel negatively, highlighting violence and conflict, which influenced my upbringing. It felt like constant brainwashing. Yet, God selected me to be part of His broader plan.”
Saleem previously adhered to the belief that God had abandoned the Jews, and the church had taken their place. However, his experiences with Jewish pastors radically shifted his understanding. Now, he encourages his church to bless the Jewish people.
“When COVID-19 hit, God prompted me to support 150 Jewish families during Passover,” he recounted, sharing a miraculous account of collaborating with Jewish local authorities.
“This is what the Bible commands us: ‘Comfort my people,’ says the Lord. It’s crucial we grasp the Bible’s messages.”
“My transformation began from the very first lesson at this university,” he shared. “Today, we support 156 families, including Arabs, Jews, Ukrainian and Russian refugees, and Holocaust survivors, showing love irrespective of their backgrounds.”
“We visited Jewish widows, Holocaust survivors, and one encounter stood out. I asked if I could write on food packages in three languages: Arabic, Hebrew, and English. Upon seeing me, a widow asked, ‘Are you Arab?’ I replied, ‘Yes, ma’am.’” She then expressed surprise, saying, “Thanks to your Messiah.” But she was unsure, saying her savior hadn’t come yet.
“I replied, ‘Hasn’t He already come?’ She was skeptical, stating, ‘I don’t believe in the New Testament.’ I continued, ‘Where’s your Bible?’ She went and got it, and we began reading passages. Her reaction was eye-opening: ‘Are you implying I’ve been misled for 80 years?! Should I convert?’ I told her, ‘No, Jesus was a Jew. Accept Him as your Savior and seek forgiveness.’”
“And she did, praying with us,” Pastor Saleem summarized. “That’s the essence of our work.”
Let’s Pray for Further Breakthroughs in the Middle East
Pastor Saleem remarked that since October 7, various solutions have arisen from the challenging circumstances, making progress possible even amid conflict. “God is still active amongst His people and those around us,” he noted.
While the Iranian regime’s intentions to harm the Jewish population persist, there is a resistance among the Iranian people against their oppressive governance. Many have turned to Yeshua, showing support for Israel. If the current regime falls, relations might shift positively between the two nations. Furthermore, funding for terrorism has dwindled, opening fresh opportunities for spreading the gospel in the region. Israel’s newfound recognition of Somaliland could also pave the way for further outreach. Change is happening quickly and fervently, so let’s pray for the Lord of Breakthrough to perform miracles across Iran, Israel, and the surrounding areas.
“When the Philistines heard that David was anointed king over all Israel, they went in search of him. Upon learning this, David confronted them. The Philistines launched an assault in the Valley of Rephaim. David asked God, ‘Should I engage the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?’ God assured him, ‘Go up, and I will deliver them into your hands.’ David went to Baal-Perazim and triumphed there. He declared, ‘God has defeated my enemies like a flood.’ Consequently, the site earned the name Baal-Perazim. They abandoned their idols, and David had them burned.” (1 Chronicles 14:8-12)
